All Blogposts

  • After the Aldeburgh Eight Seminar 2015

    After the Aldeburgh Eight Seminar 2015

    I’ve been back in Wiltshire for over a week, after three days at the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival and five days on a rural writing retreat at Bruisyard Hall in Suffolk, as one of this year’s Aldeburgh Eight.  I had an amazing time, I’m so glad I applied for a place, and I’m still processing the whole Read more

  • My bags are packed for Aldeburgh!

    So, farewell then, readers.  I’ll be back after 13th November. Hope to see some of you in Aldeburgh this weekend for the Poetry Festival.  Then I’ll be with my fellow Aldeburgh Eighters on our rural retreat! Read more

  • On not spending money (to learn to write poetry)

    On not spending money (to learn to write poetry)

    One of the comments from my previous post about writing workshops has prompted me to say that you don’t need to spend money in order to write.  I’ve sung the praises of workshops on this blog – and I am a fan of them – but don’t kid yourself that you must go to workshops in Read more

  • Ideas and prompts for NaBloPoMo

    I won’t be around for the whole of November (I’m going away for eight days) otherwise I would’ve been tempted to join in with National Blog Posting Month and publish a blog post a day for the whole of November.  However, if you’re on a NaBloPoMo mission and are looking for some inspiration, here are Read more

  • Win £2,000 and a week’s residency at Charles Causley’s house

     The Charles Causley Poetry Competition 2015 Closing Date 3rd November 2015 Entries by post.  Entry fee £7 per poem.  1st Prize 2,000 plus one week’s residency at 2, Cyprus Well, Charles Causley’s house. 2nd Prize £250. 3rd Prize £100. Now in its third year, with poets Jo Bell and Angela Readman the previous winners, there is Read more

  • Thoughts about workshopping poems

    As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been selected to take part in this year’s Aldeburgh Eight Advanced Seminar. In just over two weeks I’ll head off for three days at Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, followed by five days living at Bruisyard Hall with the other seven people in my seminar group and our two tutors, Peter Sansom Read more